Hiring new employees can be stressful and tedious for many but here are a few tips to put both you and the interviewee at ease and help you choose the best man or woman for the job.
Make a List
Print out a list of questions to have in front of you. These should cover general areas such as related job experience, their skill set, education, and other unrelated jobs. You don’t have to read it like a robot, but this allows you to have a ready reference and to
ensure that you ask all the applicants the same questions.
First Impressions
When you meet the potential employee for the first time, watch for the signs of a good hire; good communication skills, a neat and clean appearance, and a friendly and enthusiastic manner. Put them at ease with a bit of small talk. A good way to do this is to start by explaining the job and describing the company.
The Meat of the Interview
Now for the interview, use open-ended questions like those listed below and don’t use yes or no type questions, or those which prompt an obvious response – “Are you detail-oriented?”
Take them away from preplanned responses and dig deeper by your use of follow up questions, “How did that situation arise?” or “Why did you do that?” Their answers will give you a window into their knowledge, attitude and sense of humor. Watch for signs of “sour grapes” about former employers. Observe nonverbal cues like posture, eye contact, alertness.
10 Sample Questions:
- If you could design the perfect job for yourself, what would you do? Why?
- What kind of supervisor gets the best work out of you?
- How would you describe your current supervisor?
- What are three things you like about your current job?
- What were your three biggest accomplishments in you last jobs? In your career?
- What can you do for our company that no one else can?
- How far do you think you can go in this company? Why?
- What do you expect to be doing in five years?
- What interests you most about this company? This position?
- Describe three situations where your work was criticized.
End Attentively
At the end of the interview allow the applicant to ask questions — and pay attention to what he or she asks. This is the time when applicants can really show they have done their homework and researched your company or, that all they care about is what they can get out of the job.
End by letting the candidate know what to expect next. How much longer will you be interviewing? When can they expect to hear from you? They need a job and will be eagerly waiting to hear from you. Be considerate and keep them well-informed.
Source Article:
How to Conduct Effective Job Interviews Entrepreneur Magazine